EMISSIONS: President Biden signs an executive order requiring the federal government to zero out its greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and procure only clean electricity by 2030. (Politico)

ALSO:
• Carbon allowance prices are rallying on the East and West coasts as polluters anticipate cap-and-trade programs to lower emission thresholds. (E&E News)
• A progressive group’s new report outlines how the chemical industry and its reliance on oil and gas produce a significant portion of greenhouse gas emissions. (Grist)

SOLAR:
• The U.S. International Trade Commission recommends President Biden extend solar tariffs for another four years after determining that imports threaten U.S. solar manufacturers. (Bloomberg)
• A group of Native American “solar warriors” is working to break cycles of energy poverty and colonial exploitation with tribal-owned renewables. (The Hill) 

BUILDINGS: A growing number of cities this year restricted natural gas hookups in new buildings and major renovations, and some went so far as to mandate electrification in the coming years. (Utility Dive)

UTILITIES: New Mexico regulators reject the merger of a local utility with Connecticut-based Avangrid, with at least one commissioner citing the company’s performance and past fines in New England. (NM Political Report)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• The U.S. Senate parliamentarian is set to review whether Democrats can include a tax credit for U.S.- and union-made electric vehicles in their reconciliation bill. (Bloomberg)
• A growing number of startups are working to electrify fishing boats, day cruisers and other gas-guzzling watercraft. (Canary Media)
• While electric vehicle use is growing rapidly in wealthier, mostly White communities, Black and Latino neighborhoods in Chicago and elsewhere are being left behind by charging deserts. (Washington Post)

PIPELINES: The conservation director for the nonprofit Wild Virginia discusses why protesters have stuck with their effort to shut down the Mountain Valley Pipeline ahead of a state board’s vote on a critical permit. (Energy News Network)

OIL & GAS: Southeastern utilities are retiring coal but say they need to add natural gas to ensure reliability, frustrating environmentalists and illustrating a larger challenge to decarbonization. (E&E News)

POLITICS: Virginia Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin pledges to use executive action to withdraw Virginia from a regional carbon market less than a week after the state netted $228 million from completing its first full cycle of quarterly carbon auctions. (Richmond Times-Dispatch, Virginia Mercury)

WIND:
• An oil- and gas-funded libertarian think tank works to build opposition to offshore wind farms in beach communities along the East Coast. (The Intercept)
• New York’s grid operator broke its wind generation record twice in an evening during the past week. (Observer)

COMMENTARY:
• Despite false suggestions by the fossil fuel industry, rising natural gas prices have nothing to do with pro-climate policies, a columnist explains. (NRDC)
• High fossil fuel prices should prove even more of an incentive for consumers and utilities to adopt renewable energy, a consumer advocate writes. (The Hill)

Kathryn brings her extensive editorial background to the Energy News Network team, where she oversees the early-morning production of ENN’s five email digest newsletters as well as distribution of ENN’s original journalism with other media outlets. From documenting chronic illness’ effect on college students to following the inner workings of Congress, Kathryn has built a broad experience in her more than five years working at major publications including The Week Magazine. Kathryn holds a Bachelor of Science in magazine journalism and information management and technology from Syracuse University.